Finally: Organic shampoo and styling products that respect my delicate curls.
Joining the Clean Hair Care Revolution
Innersense has been one of those few elusive green beauty brands that I didn’t get a chance to test until recently, when I met Greg Starkman, co-founder and CEO of Innersense, in New York City.
The brainchild of a dynamic duo in the beauty industry, Innersense is a complete hair care line that caters to all hair types and textures with natural and wholesome ingredients. After their experience caring for a baby girl with special needs, Greg and his wife Joanne started researching greener alternatives since they realized they were exposed to a myriad of chemicals in the salons they worked as hairstylists. Fast-forward a few years later, Innersense was born in 2006, and now is a green beauty company with international presence that is sold in some of my favorite green boutiques (chiefly Credo and The Detox Market in New York.)
Innersense Organic Haircare for Curly Hair
Finding high-quality, nontoxic haircare that meets the very specific needs of my curly hair is nothing short of a quest. And there are very few truly natural brands that include options for the needs of us, curly-haired gals, so I was ecstatic when I discovered that Innersense had quite a vast array of options for me.
My Innersense Go-Tos
Mind you, guys, my hair has a strange texture. It has a tendency towards being thin, has three different curl patterns all over, and moisture makes it go big like crazy, yet it still manages to lay flat on the top part. Very much in true 1600’s Menina style, if you are a fan of Velazquez.
So I was secretly thinking that the Innersense hairstylist that did my consultation was going to be tremendously frank and tell me there is not much you can do with a thin curly hair in New York City. Boy, was I wrong.
After a quick consultation with a stylist, I was introduced to my perfect regime:
- Color Awakening Hairbath
- Hydrating Cream Conditioner
- Sweet Spirit Leave-In Conditioner
- Refresh Dry shampoo
- Inner Peace Whipped Creme Texturizer
- Hydrating Hair Masque
Innersense Color Awakening Hairbath
Let me start by saying that I do not color my hair. Is it a common shade of brown? Granted, but I actually quite like it. I have never felt the need to change it. So why use a shampoo designed for colored hair? Well, because it turns out it is quite moisturizing, which is what my super dry hair needed all along.
What I like the most about this hairbath is that it is indeed a very gentle shampoo, but it has actual suds. I am not a big fan of the no-poo movement (it just doesn’t work for me), and this cleansing rinse has softening properties that help my curls reshape without going crazy with static electricity. I personally loved its lightweight texture, and how nourishing it felt on my strands. Also, I have a very sensitive scalp, and its high content in shea butter has helped me manage an irritation flare-up caused by the change in season. This product is truly a 5-star discovery for me.
Innersense Hydrating Cream Conditioner
I am not surprised that this product received an award from Allure. To be honest, it feels super luxurious for a green hair product. Silicone-free, it uses the power of monoi and aloe vera to control frizz and deliver deep nutrition into my porous mane, and I was surprised by its very soothing scent (I later read that it has some neroli notes, which is a super relaxing aroma.)
To use the Innersense Hydrating Cream Conditioner, it is best to emulsify the product first in your hands with a bit of water, and apply from the medium portion of your hair to the ends. I stay away from putting conditioner in my scalp because then my hair lies super flat. I like to leave it on for some good 5 minutes (bonus points if you can put a hot towel on your hair for some intense conditioning), and then comb it for super manageable curls.
Innersense Sweet Spirit Leave-In Conditioner
There are days when my hair needs some extra TLC. Especially in the cold months, if I know that my hair is going to rub against wool (sweaters, my coat…), I like to put a bit of this leave-in conditioner for some extra smoothness and less frizz.
I actually like this product because it feels like a wellbeing ritual on its own. When I spritz it, I like to inhale its very sweet and calming aroma to prepare for the day ahead. I have also noted that whatever residue is left on my skin gets absorbed right away, and it does not irritate my scalp, which is my biggest fear.
The Leave-In conditioner can be used on wet or dry hair. I personally prefer to spray my curls with a bit of water first, to give them some extra bounce, and then use between 3 and 5 spritz of the Sweet Spirit conditioner before molding my hair with my hands.
Innersense Hydrating Hair Masque
Dry, coarse and damaged hair like mine loves this super rich treatment masque with flax seed, shea butter, coconut and tamanu oils and quinoa. It is intensely nourishing, yet it doesn’t weigh down curls. I like to use this masque once a week as part of my Sunday self-care routine. I find it works best on my hair if I apply it a couple of hours before I wash my hair with a hot towel. It truly makes a difference in my curls!
Innersense Refresh Dry Shampoo
I don’t know about you, but I have never seen a dry shampoo in a mousse. And that’s a biggie for me, because I am a natural brunette and I hate the white residue that natural dry shampoos leave behind. Yep, even the “tinted” ones look a bit funny.
So I was happy to finally find an organic dry shampoo with a mousse texture, which is perfect to give my roots a boost when they need it most. With my curls, usually my best hair day is one to two days after washing it, and I use this dry shampoo to give them a bit of an oomph when I have been wearing a beanie, or when the weather is so hot that my tresses end up being limp.
The formula is made with tapioca starch and witch hazel, a winning combo to fight greasy roots naturally without irritating the scalp. The Innersense Dry Shampoo is, IMHO, superb and clever.
Innersense Inner Peace Whipped Creme Texturizer
Styling products are key to a beautiful curly mane. My hair has three different textures, is thin, and it can become a stylist’s worst nightmare. I truly never know how it is going to look like after wash day.
I loved this whipped cream texturized because it is super light and leaves a very natural hold! I like to apply it to my hair when it is still wet, and I usually put a small dollop of the product on my hands and emulsify it with a bit of water. It leaves my curls soft and defined without a cast, and they don’t look heavy! It is also great to revive my curls after long hours, and paired with the leave-in conditioner it does the trick every single time.
Also, the scent is very relaxing and calming without being overpowering! My better half always compliments me on how great I smell when I use this product, and I truly like how subtle it is and how it nourishes my hair. The formula includes shea butter and honey, which are perfect for my hair type. Well done, Innersense!
My Verdict
Innersense is a great organic hair care line for curly hair. It literally has a product for every single need, and the brand understands that each curl pattern is as unique as her/his owner.
I was very surprised to like their shampoo line so much because, to be honest, most of the green options in the market fall a bit flat in this department, but truly all their products surpassed my expectations. I personally prefer how my curls look like using Innersense vs. other natural brands (like Evolvh, which has some great products, but their shampoo rituals seem to weigh down my curls), and I am absolutely in love with their formulas and their aromas. Innersense has been truly a great discovery for my mane.
Are you a curly-haired gal? What are your favorite products?
** The beautiful images in the frames are part of an old calendar by Papaya Art, one of my favorite brands for home decor and stationery created by Anahata Katkin.
